By Gina Edwards

The mission of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is to provide compassionate, evidence-based obstetrical care for patients with high-risk pregnancies often working in collaboration with their primary obstetrical providers. As one of the largest MFM Divisions in the country, the MFM Division at UPMC Magee-Womens also continues its established tradition of high-level scholarly and academic productivity, including educating all levels of learners and training future leaders in the field.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinical Programs

The MFM Division at UPMC Magee-Womens proudly offers state-of-the-art care from nationally and internationally recognized experts in management of high-risk pregnancies. Clinical services span the entirety of high-risk pregnancy care, including managing pre-existing and chronic underlying medical conditions during pregnancy; caring for patients with unexpected pregnancy complications; and diagnosing and managing fetal abnormalities such as growth problems, birth defects, and other complications that require fetal intervention/surgery during pregnancy. The MFM team works together toward the goal of healthy pregnancies by offering a multidisciplinary, collaborative, and patient-centered approach along with general obstetricians and other specialists.

With the shifts of a growing obesity epidemic and aging reproductive populations, the MFM Division’s clinical programs continue to expand to meet the needs of our region and include the Diabetes in Pregnancy program and the Postpartum Hypertension Program. The innovative postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring program has served to improve care after pregnancies complicated by a hypertensive disorder such as preeclampsia. The Division’s well-established telemedicine program prior to the COVID pandemic allowed a smooth transition without interruption of access to care during the COVID pandemic. Additionally, the telemedicine program has allowed for an expanded geographical presence and has reduced logistical barriers to care, which helps to address known drivers of health care disparities in our region.

“We didn’t skip a beat — we were already doing it,” says Dr. Arun Jeyabalan, Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division. “The new and improved platform allows for visits to occur through a cell phone interface and allows us to reach more people in rural and remote areas, as well as patients in challenging situations like lack of transportation or childcare. Ob-gyn ultrasound sites across the region have also ensured access to high-level OB care with our MFM physicians reading close to 90,000 scans over the past year alone.”

MFM perinatal outreach, including the Center for Innovative Fetal Intervention and the Center for Advanced Fetal Diagnostics, continues to have a wide clinical radius even reaching parts of New York, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia

Educational Programs

The MFM Division is committed to training the future leaders in women’s health. The faculty members are actively involved in direct teaching and mentorship at multiple levels, including medical students, residents, fellows, and other students of the health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.

Current educational programs in the MFM Division include the OB simulation programs for shoulder dystocia and hemorrhage, which are offered to all levels of obstetrical care providers with the goal of improving team-based care and patient safety. The UPMC Magee-Womens MFM Division has recently expanded the shoulder dystocia program so colleagues at the UPMC Hospitals in Hamot, Altoona, Northwest, and Hermitage can benefit from this training.

“We are not just classically educating residents, fellows, and medical students, but rather centering all of our education efforts to the team-based approach. We invite practicing ob-gyn generalists, midwives, family practice providers, and OB nurses to our training programs. Our goal is to promote evidence-based best practices and optimize team dynamics and communication,” says Dr. Jeyabalan.

Research Programs & Future Efforts

The MFM Division continues to lead innovative clinical and translational research focused on improving reproductive health outcomes. The MFM Division has an established track record of collaborative research through multi-center studies and partnerships across disciplines.

“We’ve integrated research into clinical spaces so that it happens alongside all of our clinical activities,” says Dr. Jeyabalan.

The MFM Division at UPMC Magee-Womens is part of the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Network. The Division is a contributor to several multisite studies focused on diabetes in pregnancy, is partnered with industry to study preeclampsia biomarkers, and has other research collaborations with neurology and hematology. Additionally, initiatives such as the postpartum doula program and the Postpartum Hypertension Program have allowed the MFM Division to expand its work in the community through partnerships with grassroots organizations like Healthy Start. The UPMC Magee-Womens MFM Division continues to be well-represented at national and international meetings such as the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Society of Reproductive Investigation, with faculty and fellows selected to present their research findings.

Looking to the future, Dr. Jeyabalan hopes to continue the current clinical, educational, and research programs of the Division and expand the MFM Division’s impact. She recognizes the talent and dedication of the Division’s faculty and acknowledges that the success of the Division are also a credit to the hardworking team of advanced practice providers, perinatal nurses, certified diabetes educators, and others who contribute to all of the Division’s clinical, educational, and research efforts.

“We are proud of the development and growth of our Division, including our efforts in navigating the pandemic successfully. We plan to continue to grow our faculty and programs to meet evolving patient needs,” Dr. Jeyabalan adds. “What we offer to our community and region is truly unique.”

STEVE CARITIS ENDOWED OBSTETRICS RESEARCH FUND FOR RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS

One way to support the MFM Division is through the Steve Caritis Endowed Obstetrics Research Fund for Residents & Fellows, which encourages obstetrics research among trainees. Learn more about the fund and how to support it by contacting Jessica Rock at rockjj2@mwri.magee.edu and phone number 412-641-4008

Read the full Spring 2024 issue of Magee Matters here.